Golf tee with placement structure

ABSTRACT

An improved golf tee includes an outwardly flared portion to set and maintain a desired height of the ball above ground. The tee comprises a molded plastic member with a central longitudinal cylindrical shaft, an upper end and a lower end defining an overall length of 3.25+/−0.25 inches. The upper end of the shaft transitioning into a conical golf ball support with an upper, circular rim, and the lower end of the shaft terminating in point with a rounded tip. A downwardly flared portion extends outwardly from the shaft between the upper and lower ends of the shaft, the flared portion terminating in a surface configured for ground contact when the pointed, lower end of the shaft in pushed into the ground. In the preferred embodiments, the distance between the conical ball support and the surface configured for ground contact is in the range of 1.5 to 2 inches.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to golfing and, to a golf tee with astructure for consistent in-ground placement height.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Martini® golf tee has been available for several years. It is over3″ long and made of a proprietary plastic resin that is virtuallyunbreakable. One of the issues with this tee is its length. Inparticular, different golfers—or the same golfer—may place theball-holding cup at different heights at different times, leading toinconsistent results. A structure that achieves a consistentabove-ground placement would therefore provide an advantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved golf tee includes an outwardly flared portion to set andmaintain a desired height of the ball above ground. The tee comprises amolded plastic member with a central longitudinal cylindrical shaft, anupper end and a lower end defining an overall length of 3.25+/−0.25inches. The upper end of the shaft transitioning into a conical golfball support with an upper, circular rim, and the lower end of the shaftterminating in point with a rounded tip.

A downwardly flared portion extends outwardly from the shaft between theupper and lower ends of the shaft, the flared portion terminating in asurface configured for ground contact when the pointed, lower end of theshaft in pushed into the ground. In the preferred embodiments, thedistance between the conical ball support and the surface configured forground contact is in the range of 1.5 to 2 inches.

The downwardly flared portion may be conical, such that the tee issymmetrical about a central longitudinal axis. The preferred embodimentsinclude a filleted relief between the shaft and the transition into theconical golf ball support, and a filleted relief between the shaft andthe downwardly flared portion to prevent breakage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showingnominal dimensions;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an oblique view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now making reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of apreferred embodiment of the invention showing nominal dimensions. FIG. 2is a top view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is anoblique view. By “nominal,” the Applicant means that the dimensions inFIG. 1, for example, need not be exact to retain the scope and spirit ofthe invention. In particular, the dimensions shown may vary by up to 20%while still achieving the objectives of the invention.

In the preferred embodiments, however, the tee illustrated in thedrawings comprises a molded plastic member 100 with a centrallongitudinal cylindrical shaft 102, an upper end 104 and a lower end 106defining an overall length “A” of 3.25+/−0.25 inches. The upper end ofthe shaft transitions into a conical golf ball support with an upper,circular rim 105, while the lower end of the shaft terminates in pointwith a rounded tip 108.

To maintain proper height, the article includes a downwardly flaredportion 110 extending outwardly from the shaft between the upper andlower ends of the shaft, the flared portion terminating in a surface 112configured for ground contact when the pointed, lower end of the shaftin pushed into the ground. In the preferred embodiments, the distance“C” between the conical ball support and the surface configured forground contact is in the range of 1.5 to 2 inches.

The tee is preferably injection molded to create a unitary product.While the bottom surface 112 of the flared portion 110 is preferablysolid and flat, the bottom may be open so long as a structure such as aground-contacting rim (i.e., circular) prevents or inhibits furtherground penetration.

1. An improved golf tee, comprising: a unitary, molded plastic memberwith a central longitudinal cylindrical shaft, an upper end and a lowerend defining an overall length of 3.25+/−0.25 inches; the upper end ofthe shaft transitioning into a conical golf ball support with an upper,circular rim defining a first diameter; the lower end of the shaftterminating in a pointed point tip; a downwardly flared portionextending outwardly from the shaft between the upper and lower ends ofthe shaft, the flared portion terminating in a lower surface with acircular edge configured for ground contact when the pointed, lower endof the shaft is pushed into the ground; wherein the downwardly flaredportion forms a cone with a flat lower surface, and the circular edgedefines a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter; andwherein the distance between the conical ball support and the surfaceconfigured for ground contact is in the range of 1.5 to 2 inches.
 2. Theimproved golf tee of claim 1, wherein the downwardly flared portion isconical such that the tee is symmetrical about a central longitudinalaxis.
 3. The improved golf tee of claim 1, included a filleted reliefbetween the shaft and the transition into the conical golf ball support.4. The improved golf tee of claim 1, included a filleted relief betweenthe shaft and the downwardly flared portion.